The Making Of The Dark Side Of The Moon

Pink Floyd

Judging by the popularity of the Classic Albums series, which has covered aural masterpieces like the Who's Who's Next, Bob Marley & The Wailer's Catch A Fire, and U2's The Joshua Tree, it seems inevitable that Pink Floyd's epic The Dark Side Of The Moon would receive an episode of its own. The real beauty behind this comprehensive DVD is not the fact that viewers are taken through each step of the recording — and that's a tale unto itself — but rather that this is a cooperative effort between all four of the band's principal members: David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Richard Wright.

That's right, the same combination that recorded the bulk of Floyd's catalog from 1968's Saucerful Of Secrets to 1979's The Wall — each chip in a few comments, as well as a couple of renowned licks from the album. It's especially refreshing to see Waters, who has publicly distanced himself from the other three for 20 years, speak glowingly about everyone's contributions without so much as batting an eye. Released in tandem with the remixed 5.1 surround SACD to celebrate the album's 30th anniversary, the DVD also features a healthy selection of bonus outtakes that are equally appealing to anyone who ever plopped on The Dark Side Of The Moon, indulged in a bit of herbal stimuli, and wondered how on earth they were able to so precisely encapsulate total madness.